People Who Collaborate

When Tory Stinnett became Executive Director of the Greater Eastern Oregon Development Corporation (GEODC) in December 2025, she stepped into a role that asks a lot of one person: strategist, steward, and advocate. GEODC serves six counties, 36 incorporated cities, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, and the Burns Paiute Tribe — a sprawling geography with deep roots and distinct needs. "The job is part strategy, part stewardship, and part advocacy," she says. "I work to make sure rural and frontier communities have a strong voice with local, state, and federal partners. READ MORE.

Preparations Underway for What Could Be a Challenging Wildfire Season

A record low snowpack for the Harney Basin has locals and agency managers worried about the potential for wildfire this summer.

In fact, the wildfire season got an early start in April with the Swamp Fire on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The fire started on April 14 and burned 257 acres. Joe Sullivan, Assistant Fire Management Officer with the Bureau of Land Management Burns District, said the tulles and cattails provided the main fuel source for the fire, and this time of year that kind of vegetation can be more likely to ignite. He said the fire burned in the tulles and made a run with the wind before agencies knocked it down.

Rancher and North Harney Rangeland Fire Protection Association Chairman Tom Sharp noted, “We don't have the snowpack to sustain the normal runoffs that would supply the surface water in the creeks and the river or diverted into the meadows.” With no melt off, everything will dry out much faster, making it easier for ignitions to start when thunderstorms hit. “I've been out and looking at range conditions, and it actually looks pretty good right now. But without having the snowpack to continue the runoff and without regular rains, I think we're going to have a very challenging wildfire year,” Sharp said. READ MORE.

Pictured: One of two tenders Coos Forest Protective Association generously donated to RFPAs in 2024.

Childcare Survey for Harney County

Calling all parents/caregivers of young children, expecting partents, and those planning to start a family soon in Harney County please complete a childcare survey by Monday June 15. The insights you share will be used by the Youth Changing the Community and Biz Harney Opportunity Collaboratives to shape solutions that expand access to quality childcare for Harney County families.

Harney County Migratory Bird Festival

With the flooding in 2025 and the cancellation of many of the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival activities we were excited to get back to it this year and welcome so many of you to Harney County to enjoy, the place, the people and of course, the birds.

From tours, to the Wetlands Happy Hour to the Farmer's Market at Thursday's Harney County Chamber of Commerce's Harney Nights it was a very full weekend. You can see much more including bits of the tours with Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative partners like Ducks Unlimited Ashley Tunstall and High Desert Partnership's Melissa Petschauer and Josey Wilson on our Facebook and Instagram social feeds, @highdesertpartnership.

A heartfelt thank you to the tireless bird festival team for another great weekend.

Showtime!

Earlier this year, seven community-led projects across Harney County were selected to receive Civic Experiment Grants through Trust for Civic Life.

Chosen by community volunteers from 15 applicants, these projects will help bring more youth programs, cultural events, creative opportunities and welcoming community gatherings to Harney County in 2026.

From free swim lessons and children's theater to art enrichment, community concerts, family events, and youth-centered play days, each project shares a common goal: reducing barriers and creating more ways for people to gather, participate and feel connected.

One of these projects is the Missoula Children's Theater, organized by the Harney County Arts in Education Foundation. June 8-13—students from kindergarten through high school—will have a week-long immersive experience in acting, singing and choreography. Two public performances will cap the week Saturda, June 13 at 3pm and 5:30pm at Slater Elementary. Get your tickets at the door!

THIS IS HARNEY

2026 Upcoming Events

Wednesday, June 24 | Harney Basin Wetlands Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, June 24 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting

Thursday, June 25| Harney County Wildfire Collaborative & Harney County Forest Restoration Collaborative Joint Meeting

Monday, June 29 | High Desert Partnership Board Meeting

Wednesday July 22| Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Planning Collaborative Meeting

Monday, July 27 | High Desert Partnership Board Meeting

Tuesday, July 28| Youth Changing the Community Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, July 29 | Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting

Wednesday, August 26| Biz Harney Opportunity Collaborative Meeting

Check out High Desert Partnership's event calendar.

Six Collaboratives Supported By

High Desert Partnership

HDP Website

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